Shoelace securing assembly

ABSTRACT

A shoelace securing assembly for securing shoelaces on shoes without tying the shoelaces includes a block that has a plurality of apertures each extending therethrough. Each of the apertures insertably receives a respective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having the shoe laces arranged into a pair of loops. In this way the block facilitates the shoe laces to be secured in lieu of tying a knot. Thus, the block facilitates a child to secure the shoe on the child&#39;s foot without knowing how to tie the shoelaces. Each of the apertures has a prominence therein and the prominence in each of the apertures frictionally engages the respective shoelaces for retaining the shoelaces in the block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention. (2) Descriptionof Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98.

The disclosure and prior art relates to shoelace securing devices andmore particularly pertains to a new shoelace securing device forsecuring shoelaces on shoes without tying the shoelaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a block that has a plurality of apertures eachextending therethrough. Each of the apertures insertably receives arespective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having the shoe lacesarranged into a pair of loops. In this way the block facilitates theshoe laces to be secured in lieu of tying a knot. Thus, the blockfacilitates a child to secure the shoe on the child's foot withoutknowing how to tie the shoelaces. Each of the apertures has a prominencetherein and the prominence in each of the apertures frictionally engagesthe respective shoelaces for retaining the shoelaces in the block.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoelace securing assembly accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of an alternative embodiment of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through10 thereof, a new shoelace securing device embodying the principles andconcepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the shoelace securingassembly 10 generally comprises a block 12 that has a plurality ofapertures 14 each extending therethrough. Each of the apertures 14insertably receives a respective one of a pair of shoelaces 16 on a shoe18 having the shoelaces 16 being arranged into a pair of loops. In thisway the block 12 facilitates the shoelaces 16 to be secured in lieu oftying a knot. Thus, the block 12 facilitates a child to secure the shoe18 on the child's foot without knowing how to tie the shoelaces 16.

Each of the apertures 14 has a prominence 20 therein and the prominence20 in each of the apertures 14 frictionally engages the respectiveshoelace 16. In this way the shoelaces 16 are retained in the block 12.The block 12 has a first lateral surface 22 and a second lateral surface24, and each of the apertures 14 extends through the first 22 and second24 lateral surfaces. Each of the apertures 14 has a bounding surface 26and the bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 has theprominence 20 thereon. The prominence 20 on the bounding surface 26 ofeach of the apertures 14 extends substantially between the first 22 andsecond 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12.

The plurality of apertures 14 includes a first aperture 28, a secondaperture 30, a third aperture 32 and a fourth aperture 34. A first oneof the shoelaces 36 is extended through the first aperture 28 from thefirst lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24.Additionally, the first shoelace 36 is looped back through the secondaperture 30 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateralsurface 22. A second one of the shoelaces 40 is extended through thethird aperture 32 from the second lateral surface 24 toward the firstlateral surface 22. The second shoelace 40 is looped back through thefourth aperture 34 from the first lateral surface 22 toward the secondlateral surface 24.

The bounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 curves inwardlytoward a center line of a respective aperture 14 between each of thefirst 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12. Thus, each ofthe apertures 14 has a biconcave cross section taken along aperpendicular axis with respect to the center line of the respectiveaperture 14 thereby defining the prominence 20 in the respectiveaperture 14. In an alternative embodiment 44 as shown in FIG. 5, thebounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 curves outwardly fromthe center line of the respective aperture 14 at each of the first 22and second 24 lateral surfaces of the block 12 such that each end of theapertures 14 has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a centerof the apertures 14.

In an alternative embodiment 46 as shown in FIG. 6, the bounding surface26 of each of the apertures 14 has a first portion 48 and a secondportion 50. The first portion 48 of each of the apertures 14 anglesupwardly between the first lateral surface 22 and a center of theapertures 14. Additionally, the second portion 50 of each of theapertures 14 angles upwardly between the second lateral surface 24 andthe center of the apertures 14. Thus, each end of the apertures 14 has adiameter that is less than a diameter of the center of the apertures 14.The intersection between the first 48 and second 50 portion of thebounding surface 26 of each of the apertures 14 frictionally engages therespective shoelace 16.

In an alternative embodiment 52 as shown in FIG. 7, the bounding surface26 of each of the apertures 14 has a first portion 54, a second portion56 and a middle portion 58 extending therebetween. Each of the first 54and second 56 portions of a respective one of the apertures 14 anglesupwardly between a respective one of the first 22 and second 24 lateralsurfaces of the block 12 and the middle portion 58 of the respectiveaperture 14. Thus, each end of the respective apertures 14 has adiameter that is greater than a diameter associated with the middleportion 58 of the respective aperture 14. In an alternative embodiment60 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the block 12 has an outside surface 62extending between each of the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces.Moreover, the outside surface 62 is continuously arcuate such that theblock 12 has a circular cross section taken along a line extendingthrough the first 22 and second 24 lateral surfaces.

In use, the first shoelace 38 is extended through the first aperture 28from the first lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24.The first shoelace 38 is then looped back through the second aperture 30from the second lateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22.Thus, the first shoelace 38 is formed into a loop that is typicallyformed when the shoelaces 16 are tied into a bowknot. The secondshoelace 42 is extended through the third aperture 32 from the secondlateral surface 24 toward the first lateral surface 22. The secondshoelace 42 is then looped back through the fourth aperture 34 from thefirst lateral surface 22 toward the second lateral surface 24. Thus, thesecond shoelace 42 is formed into a loop that is typically formed whenthe shoelaces 16 are tied into the bowknot. In this way a child that hasnot learned how to tie a bowknot can secure the shoelaces 16 on shoes 18that the child is wearing.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A shoelace securing assembly being configured to secure shoelaces ona shoe in lieu of a knot, said assembly comprising: a block having aplurality of apertures each extending therethrough, each of saidapertures insertably receiving a respective one of a pair of shoelaceson a shoe having said shoe laces being arranged into a pair of loopsthereby facilitating said block to secure said shoe laces in lieu oftying a knot wherein said block is configured to facilitate a child tosecure said shoe on the child's foot without knowing how to tie saidshoelaces, each of said apertures having a prominence therein, saidprominence in each of said apertures frictionally engaging saidrespective shoelaces for retaining said shoelaces in said block, saidblock having a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, eachof said apertures extending through said first and second lateralsurfaces, each of said apertures having a bounding surface, saidbounding surface of each of said apertures having said prominencethereon, said prominence on said bounding surface of each of saidapertures extending substantially between said first and second lateralsides of said block, said bounding surface of each of said aperturestapering extending inwardly from each of said first lateral side andsaid second lateral side toward a center line of a respective aperturesuch that each of said apertures has cross-sectional taken along aperpendicular axis with respect to said center line of said respectiveaperture defining a pair of adjoining cones thereby defining saidprominence in said respective aperture.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures includes afirst aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and a fourthaperture, a first one of said shoelaces being extended through saidfirst aperture from said first lateral surface toward said secondlateral surface, said first shoelace being looped back through saidsecond aperture from said second lateral surface toward said firstlateral surface, a second one of said shoelaces being extended throughsaid third aperture from said second lateral surface toward said firstlateral surface, said second shoelace being looped back through saidfourth aperture from said first lateral surface toward said secondlateral surface.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A shoelace securing assembly beingconfigured to secure shoelaces on a shoe in lieu of a knot, saidassembly comprising: a block having a plurality of apertures eachextending therethrough, each of said apertures insertably receiving arespective one of a pair of shoelaces on a shoe having said shoe lacesbeing arranged into a pair of loops thereby facilitating said block tosecure said shoe laces in lieu of tying a knot wherein said block isconfigured to facilitate a child to secure said shoe on the child's footwithout knowing how to tie said shoelaces, each of said apertures havinga prominence therein, said prominence in each of said aperturesfrictionally engaging said respective shoelaces for retaining saidshoelaces in said block, said block having a first lateral surface and asecond lateral surface, each of said apertures extending through saidfirst and second lateral surfaces, each of said apertures having abounding surface, said bounding surface of each of said apertures havingsaid prominence thereon, said prominence on said bounding surface ofeach of said apertures extending substantially between said first andsecond lateral sides of said block, said plurality of aperturesincluding a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture and afourth aperture, a first one of said shoelaces being extended throughsaid first aperture from said first lateral surface toward said secondlateral surface, said first shoelace being looped back through saidsecond aperture from said second lateral surface toward said firstlateral surface, a second one of said shoelaces being extended throughsaid third aperture from said second lateral surface toward said firstlateral surface, said second shoelace being looped back through saidfourth aperture from said first lateral surface toward said secondlateral surface, said bounding surface of each of said aperturestapering extending inwardly from each of said first lateral side andsaid second lateral side toward a center line of a respective aperturesuch that each of said apertures has cross-sectional taken along aperpendicular axis with respect to said center line of said respectiveaperture defining a pair of adjoining cones thereby defining saidprominence in said respective aperture.
 6. (canceled) The assemblyaccording to claim 5, wherein said bounding surface of each of saidapertures curves outwardly from said center line of said respectiveaperture at each of said first and second lateral surfaces of said blocksuch that each end of said apertures has a diameter being greater than adiameter of a center of said apertures.
 7. The assembly according toclaim 5, further comprising each end of said apertures having a diameterbeing less than a diameter of a center between said apertures. 8.(canceled)
 9. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said block hasan outside surface extending between each of said first and secondlateral surfaces, said outside surface being continuously arcuate suchthat said block has a circular cross section taken along a lineextending through said first and second lateral surfaces.